Thermo-mechanical characterization of PHB/PCL blend incorporated with carbon nanotubes
Alexandra Maria Cardona Loaiza
, Maria Eduarda Araújo Ribeiro, Ruben J. Sanchez Rodriguez
, Maria Eduarda Araújo Ribeiro, Ruben J. Sanchez RodriguezVol. 19., No.9., Pages 862-877, 2025
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.66
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.66
Corresponding author: Alexandra Maria Cardona Loaiza 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a polymer with great application potential; however, its brittleness and low mechanical strength restrict its use in many fields. This study investigated a strategy to overcome the mechanical limitations of PHB by blending it with polycaprolactone (PCL) and producing nanocomposites with non-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT) and functionalized ones (f-CNT). The effect of blend composition and the addition of f-CNT were studied in hotpressed specimens. In PHB/30PCL blends, a reduction in the overall crystallinity degree was observed, while in PHB/10PCL the crystallinity maintained close to neat PHB. In PHB/10PCL nanocomposites, no significant change was registered, but in PHB/30PCL with f-CNT, the crystallinity degree increased and achieved values comparable to PHB. Differential scanning calorimetry suggested that f-CNT had a higher impact in PCL crystallinity in formulations of PHB/30PCL. Scanning electron microscopy showed that in these formulations, f-CNT were preferably located at the interface of PHB/PCL, while in PHB/10PCL the particles were mainly located in PHB. In general, the blends suffered with a reduction in elastic modulus and strength, especially for PHB/30PCL formulation.
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This is an editorial article. It has no abstract.
